'Shiv Sena' Leaders Disrupt Pakistani Play In Gurgaon, Say They Will Continue To Protest

Activists of India's Shiv Sena organization burn a Pakistani flag during a demonstration in Amritsar on May 4, 2013, as they protest against the Pakistani government and the Pakistani inmates who attacked Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh. Sarabjit Singh, an Indian convicted 16 years ago in Pakistan for spying and deadly bombings, died May 2, after being beaten in a Lahore prison, sparking a furious response from Indian politicians. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)

GURGAON--Days after Shiv Sena forced the cancellation of ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's musical performance in Mumbai, a drama by a few Pakistani actors in Gurgaon were disrupted by men who claimed to be from Shiv Sena.

Around 5-6 young men claiming to be Shiv Sainiks climbed atop the stage and raised anti-Pakistan slogans at an open air theatre in Gurgaon, on Delhi's outskirts, where a group of seven Pakistani actors were staging a play "Banjh" (infertile) on Saturday.

"They shouted slogans like 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Pakistan Murdabad' and disrupted the show for about 5-10 minutes," Public Relations Officer of Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon Satbir Rohilla told PTI.

Though some reports said Shiv Sena activists pulled down Pakistani flags put on the stage, Rohilla said nothing of that sort happened.

However, this time, the leaders couldn't succeed in stopping the show. According to reports, the show by the artistes from 'Mass Foundation', Lahore, continued after the public forced the protesters to leave the venue.

Alleged #ShivSena protesters forced to leave by public as they were trying to stop a play in #Gurgaon by #Pakistan's artist. Play completed.

Rohilla said the concerned authorities decided against reporting the matter to the police as they did not want to "turn the trouble makers into heroes".

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Deepak Sharan said though no complaint has been registered by the organisers of the show, the matter is being investigated. He said the organisers had neither obtained permission for the play nor intimated the local police about it.

"Still, on getting information, the Police Inspector of the concerned police station rushed to the scene. We have got to know of the registration number of the vehicle used by the trouble makers. The matter is under investigation," he said.

Rohilla, however, said they inform the local police about cultural events at the theatre which are held every Saturday.

"However, no policeman was present at the venue," he said.

One of the protesting leaders told PTI that they will continue such protests across the country. "Ceasefire violations by Pakistan keep on happening. Our citizens, our jawans continue to be killed by them. As long as such things happen, we will continue to protest against Pakistan, not only in Gurgaon but everywhere in the country," Rituraj, who claimed to be Shiv Sainik, said.

Defending their move, one of the leaders said that their form of protest is 'peaceful' and it isn't wrong. "We have a lot of ways to protest but we have chosen a peaceful way to protest for now," one of the leaders told ANI.

The Sena activists had recently blackened the face of former BJP leader Sudheendra Kulkarni, chairman of the Observer Research Foundation, in Mumbai when he refused to cancel the book launch of former Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in Mumbai.

They had also stormed the BCCI office in Mumbai and forced cancellation of talks between Indian cricket board chief Shashank Manohar and his Pakistani counterpart Shahryar Khan on resumption of cricketing ties between the two countries.

Meanwhile, taking a jibe at its ruling ally BJP, the Shiv Sena today said the saffron party has received "Modi oxygen" in the form of power, which will last as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity among the masses remains intact.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party also sent a strong message to the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying its successful Dussehra rally indicated that the future belonged to the Sena and that it was prepared to fight the upcoming (poll) battles alone if needed.

"The BJP has received Modi oxygen in the form of power. This oxygen will last till the subsidy of the popularity ends...Sena is standing firm on its thoughts, struggle and patriotism. The party has never changed its stand on the issues of Hindutva, patriotism, Maharashtra's identity and issues concerning common man's life. Our beliefs will not change at any cost," the Sena said in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"Shiv Sena has waged a war against the enemies of the country. The party does not face challenge by anybody," it said adding, people's support will ensure that the Sena's flag flutters over Maharashtra in the future.

"The future belongs only to the Sena and the Dussehra rally of the party has sent this message across to everybody. We will fight it out with whosoever is willing to join us, or else, we are fully prepared to fight it out all alone with the confidence instilled in us by the Sena chief. Nobody should dare block our path!" it said.

The saffron party also hit out at Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar apparently over hosting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his hometowm Baramati last week.

"With no work left in Delhi, Pawar has opened a new business of lodging and boarding and finding solace in hosting political leaders at Govind Baug in Baramati. With ageing, Pawar's politics is also on the wane," it said.

"Pawar's politics is something that should not be taken seriously. You never know when he becomes secular and when he starts praising BJP," the Sena said.

Taking on the Congress party, it said the Sonia Gandhi-led party has become virtually a non-entity in Maharashtra. "There are no (Congress) leaders, workers and hence no voters."